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Shackleton’s Ross Sea Party, July, 1916: “. . . . a better pal amidst toil and trouble never existed.”

December 8, 2016

–from the diary of Ernest Joyce, published as “The South Polar Trail”— “All was going well until one day Richy [R. W. Richards] collapsed. He threw up his arms, gave a cry, and fell down in a faint. Cope was soon to his aid; the long journey had strained his heart. No words could express … More Shackleton’s Ross Sea Party, July, 1916: “. . . . a better pal amidst toil and trouble never existed.”

Shackleton’s Ross Sea Party, March 9, 1916: “he had already passed along the road to the Great Unknown.”

March 8, 2016

–from Ernest Joyce’s account “The South Polar Trail”— “March 9th, Thursday. Had a distracting night. Temperature down below -30. Poor Padre was groaning with pain. In the medical chest there appears to be little to relieve him. He was anxious to know the time. When Wild said 4 a.m., he remarked “Have you lost your … More Shackleton’s Ross Sea Party, March 9, 1916: “he had already passed along the road to the Great Unknown.”

The drift of Shackleton’s ‘Aurora’, March 4-5, 1916: “. . . the ‘Aurora,’ with banked fires, rolled and bumped heavily.”

March 5, 2016

–from Shackleton’s account “South” drawn from the log of J. R. Stenhouse— “No advanced was made on March 4 and 5. A moderate gale from the east-north-east closed the ice and set it in motion, and the ‘Aurora,’ with banked fires, rolled and bumped heavily. Seventeen bergs were in sight, and one of the was … More The drift of Shackleton’s ‘Aurora’, March 4-5, 1916: “. . . the ‘Aurora,’ with banked fires, rolled and bumped heavily.”

Shackleton’s Ross Sea Party, January 3, 1916: “Whilst cooking their dinner the Primus gave out. .”

January 3, 2016

–from the diary of Ernest Joyce– “. . . We are now going through the same few miles where the dogs collapsed in February last; passed several of our old cairns; on one, 2 sets of dog harness. . . . The other tent called out for me. I went over. Whilst cooking their dinner … More Shackleton’s Ross Sea Party, January 3, 1916: “Whilst cooking their dinner the Primus gave out. .”

Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, October 29, 1915: “Poor old ship, what a battered wreck she was.”

October 30, 2015

–from Frank Hurley’s account “Shackleton’s Argonauts”— “Early next morning, before the others were astir, Wild and I rejoined our leader, and together we went aboard the ‘Endurance.’ Poor old ship, what a battered wreck she was. All the cabins along the starboard side had closed up like the bellows of a folding camera. The alleyways … More Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, October 29, 1915: “Poor old ship, what a battered wreck she was.”

Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, October 3, 1915: “New leads had appeared. . . .”

October 3, 2015

–from Shackleton’s account “South”– ”Our position on Sunday, October 3, was lat 69º 14′ S., long. 51º 8′ W. During the night the floe holding the ship aft cracked in several places, and this appeared to have eased the strain on the rudder. The forenoon was misty, with falls of snow, but the weather cleared … More Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, October 3, 1915: “New leads had appeared. . . .”

June 22, 1915: Midwinter’s Day on board the ‘Endurance’ adrift in the Weddell Sea

June 22, 2015

–from Frank Hurley’s account “Shackleton’s Argonauts”– “Our most ambitious entertainment occurred on 22 June in celebration of Mid-winter Day. A close holiday was observed. After an excellent breakfast and lunch, we partook of a ‘feast’ dinner, after which we all retired to our cubicles to dress up. I erected a stage, complete with acetylene footlights, … More June 22, 1915: Midwinter’s Day on board the ‘Endurance’ adrift in the Weddell Sea

June 22, 1915: Midwinter’s Day for Shackleton’s Ross Sea Party at Cape Evans

June 21, 2015

–from Kelly Tyler-Lewis’ recounting of the day in “The Lost Men: The Harrowing Saga of Shackleton’s Ross Sea Party”– “On June 21, Mackintosh rallied the group for a Midwinter’s Day party to relieve the gloom and lift spirits. With homesick intensity, the men vied for prizes in relay races and pin the tail on the … More June 22, 1915: Midwinter’s Day for Shackleton’s Ross Sea Party at Cape Evans

June 22, 1915: Midwinter’s Day on board the ‘Aurora’ adrift in the Ross Sea

June 20, 2015

–quoted from J. R. Stenhouse, captain of the ‘Aurora,’ in Shackleton’s account “South”– “June 22–To-day the sun has reached the limit of his northern declination and now he will start to come south. Observed this day as holiday, and in the evening had hands aft to drink the health of the King and the Expedition. … More June 22, 1915: Midwinter’s Day on board the ‘Aurora’ adrift in the Ross Sea

Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, June 6, 1915: “We have spoken a good deal about the war today. . . .”

June 6, 2015

–from Thomas Orde Lees’ diary— “A quiet day on board, and the coldest yet, -27 deg. We have spoken a good deal about the war today. Naturally it is a matter of anxiety to us, but as our anxiety cannot possibly be relieved until we escape from our ice-bound prison, our surmises and speculations are … More Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ Expedition, June 6, 1915: “We have spoken a good deal about the war today. . . .”